391 1450 Board #243 May 28, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Promoting Physical Activity and Science Learning in an Outdoor Education Program Kevin E. Finn, Zi Yan, Kyle McInnis, FACSM. Merrimack College, North Andover, MA. (Sponsor: Kyle McInnis, FACSM) Email: finnk@merrimack.edu (No relationships reported) PURPOSE: Outdoor and environmental education programs have been shown to have a positive impact on the educational, physical and emotional development of youth. Outdoor education programs are increasingly being used to foster a sense of community in schools and to provide students with learning opportunities related to the environment. This study assessed an outdoor education program aimed at increasing physical activity and improving science knowledge among elementary school children METHODS: Forty-four children (male n=19, age M=9.7 ±0.4) from an elementary school in an economically disadvantaged urban community participated in the study. To gather baseline physical activity information, the participants wore a pedometer for six hours during a typical school day. A subset of fourteen participants also wore an accelerometer during the same day at school. The one-week outdoor education program, which took place at a local day camp, provided a learning environment for the participants that focused on physical science, team building, physical education, and science inquiry lessons. During the program, the same participants wore pedometers and accelerometers for about five hours per day for five days. Steps and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were recorded. All participants took a pre and post science test to assess science inqui ry knowledge appropriate to participants’ age group. RESULTS: Average steps/hour and MVPA/hour at school were M=391.12, SD=219.97, and M=3.31, SD=.58, respectively; Average steps/hour and MVPA/hour during the outdoor education program were M=1237.34, SD=716.14, and M=9.50, SD=1.44, respectively. T tests showed steps/hour and MVPA/hour were significantly higher during the outdoor education program compared to at school, t(43)=-28.02, t(43)=-29.34, respectively, Ps<.001. Science test score increased from Pre M=8.1 (SD=2.5) to Post M= 9.4(SD=2.0), t(43)=-4.19, p<.01. CONCLUSION: Schools can utilize outdoor and environmental education programs to promote physical activity and improve science learning in elementary school children. 1451 Board #244 May 28, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Current State Of Practice And Measurement Error In Manual Community Bicycle And Pedestrian Count Programs. David R. Paul, Michael B. Lowry, Philp W. Scruggs, Ryan P. McGrath. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. (Sponsor: Chantal A. Vella, FACSM) Email: dpaul@uidaho.edu (No relationships reported) PURPOSE: To understand how and why communities implement manual bicycle and pedestrian count programs, and quantify the measurement error observed with common techniques. METHODS: An online questionnaire (Likert scale, open-ended, check box, multiple choice) was sent to Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators for every State Department of Transportation and various communities in the US (purposive “snowball” sample) asking about their manual bicycle and pedestrian count programs, such as purposes of the counts, characteristics of volunteers, use of automated count equipment, and application of adjustment factors. Simultaneously, bicycle and pedestrian count errors were assessed by 25 trained participants at 5 high volume intersections for 2 hours on 2 separate days in a small community (using 4- or 12-movement techniques). Participants were randomly assigned to tally information about direction and mode of travel, helmet usage, sidewalk bicycling, and age and sex of the traveler. Video recorders placed at the intersections served as the criterion measure. Absolute percent errors (APE) were calculated by taking the absolute difference between video and participant counts. Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were used to detect significant differences. RESULTS: The most common reasons for conducting counts reported by the 71 respondents were to “improve community-wide infrastructure, signage, and paint markings”, “analyze trends year-to-year” and “measure physical activity”. Many communities are not using automatic counters or making seasonal or day-of-week adjustments, and count infrequently and rarely for more than one day per year. The majority of community-volunteers are “first time” counters. APE for counting bicyclists and pedestrians with the 4-movement technique was 11% and 4%, respectively; whereas, the corresponding APEs for the 12-movement technique were 27% and 8%. Although differences between the techniques were not significant (p>0.05), large within- counter errors were observed (0-50%). CONCLUSIONS: The survey results suggest that data collected by many communities may be inappropriately utilized due to the infrequent nature of the counts. The ability to utilize the data are further complicated by the presence of profound within-subject counting errors. Funded by PacTrans, Region 10 1452 Board #245 May 28, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Effects of a Long-Term University Exercise Program on Physical Activity In Previously Sedentary Individuals Brigid Griffin, Curtis Fennell, Hayden Gerhart, Kimberly Hauge, Ellen L. Glickman, FACSM. Kent State University, Kent, OH. (Sponsor: Ellen L Glickman, FACSM) (No relationships reported) PURPOSE: To explore the health-related and physical effects (via an accelerometer) of a 16-month group exercise program among previously sedentary individuals. METHODS: 150 individuals were engaged in a faculty staff exercise program, however, complete data is only available for the purpose of this analysis on 18 individuals. Therefore, we analyzed the data of 18 faculty staff aged 52.9±6.2 yrs who participated in 16 months of supervised group exercise. These individuals participated in group exercise 3 times a week for 60 min. Participants self-selected into supervised exercise classes offered. Pre- and post-testing variables measures included body weight, body fat percent, resting heart rate, curl-ups, and sit-and- reach. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease (p<0.001) in body weight from pre (89.4±19.4 kg) to post testing (87.4±1705 kg). Percent body fat revealed a significant decrease (p<0.001) from pre (37.5±6.8) to post (30.3±6.5). Resting heart rate demonstrated a significant decrease (p=0.011) from pre (76±11bpm) to post (71±8 bpm). There was a significant improvement in the amount of curl-ups in one min (p=0.039) from pre (32.8±10.9) to post (44.8±20.5) test. There was a significant gain in flexibility measured by the sit-and-reach (p<0.001) from pre (24.0±9.8) to post (28.5±9.0) test. Of the 11 individuals that regularly wore the MOVband an average of 36.12 miles per week were recorded over the 16 month exercise program(n=11). CONCLUSION: Participation in the 16 month university group exercise program reduced body weight, percent body fat, resting heart rate, and improved the number of curl-ups and flexibility in previously sedentary individuals. Physical activity levels met the ACSM recommendations of 35 miles per week in the individuals that wore the MOVband. This investigation demonstrates that an on-site supervised exercise program among previously sedentary individuals is beneficial. Future research is needed to evaluate the long term effects of increasing the exercise duration and compliance in this population. 1453 Board #246 May 28, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Differences in Participation in University Worksite Health Promotion Programs and Physical Activity Between Faculty, Staff and Administration Lisa J. Leininger 1 , Kent J. Adams, FACSM 1 , Mark DeBeliso, FACSM 2 , Breanna Z. Orozco 1 . 1 California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA. 2 Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT. Email: lleininger@csumb.edu (No relationships reported) Copyright © 2015 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.